The Matildas have gone from strength to strength in the FIFA Women's World Cup.
As they prepare to take on England in tonight's semifinal, they've already made history by advancing further than any Australia soccer team — men or women — in the global tournament.
The Matildas quarterfinal against France pulled the biggest television audience of the year so far with 4.17 million viewers, and the prime minister even floated the idea of a public holiday if Australia goes all the way.
So as World Cup fever sweeps the nation, here's your pocket guide to every Matildas player.
Goalkeepers
Mackenzie Arnold
Name: Mackenzie Arnold
Position: Goalkeeper, No.18
Where is she from? Gold Coast, Queensland
Current club: West Ham United FC (England)
Arnold has over a decade of experience with the Matildas after making her Australian debut in 2012. The three-time W-League Goalkeeper of the Year made her W-League debut for Perth Glory as a teenager. Since then, she has represented Canberra United, Western Sydney Wanderers, and hometown club Brisbane Roar.
Teagan Micah
Name: Teagan Micah
Position: Goalkeeper, No.12
Where is she from? Moe, Victoria
Current club: Liverpool FC (England)
Micah is the most recent addition to the Matildas stellar goalkeeping line-up. The 25-year-old had short stints with Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney as a teenager before heading to the US to start a successful college career with UCLA Bruins. Debuting with the Tillies just prior to the 2021 Olympic Games, Micah soon became a name to watch after her player-of-the-match performance against Great Britain in Tokyo, which included a penalty save in extra time.
Lydia Williams
Name: Lydia Williams
Position: Goalkeeper, No.1
Where is she from? Kalgoorlie, WA
Current club: Brighton & Hove Albion FC (England)
A veteran of the green and gold jersey, Williams has represented Australia over 17 years. She earned her first training camp call-up with the senior national team at age 15 and by 19, she was selected to represent Australia in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. One of the first Matildas to transition to overseas leagues, Williams has also spent seven seasons in the US with numerous clubs, before switching to the English Super League.
Defenders
Ellie Carpenter
Name: Ellie Carpenter
Position: Defender, No.21
Where is she from? Sydney, NSW
Current club: Olympique Lyonnais (France)
To spot Ellie Carpenter on the field, just look for the player with the most expressive face. Carpenter started her A-League career as a 15-year-old with Western Sydney in 2015. The next year she debuted with the Australian team during a Rio Olympic qualification campaign, becoming the first international to be born in the 21st century. She currently plays for Europe's most successful side — France's Olympique Lyonnais.
Steph Catley
Name: Steph Catley
Position: Defender, No.7
Where is she from? Melbourne, Victoria
Current club: Arsenal FC (England)
Steph Catley is an old hand on the Matildas squad, playing for Australia in three FIFA Women's World Cups and two Olympics. Basically, Catley has featured in almost every major tournament involving the Matildas in the last decade. In 2020, Catley made a huge career move to Arsenal FC, the most successful club in the English women's game, alongside fellow Matilda, Caitlin Foord.
Charlotte Grant
Name: Charlotte Grant
Position: Defender, No.22
Where is she from? Adelaide, SA
Current club: Vittsjö GIK (Sweden)
Charlotte Grant is a relatively new member of the Matildas, making her debut with the team in 2021. But the 22-year-old has been a soccer prodigy from way back, making her A-League debut with Adelaide United when she was just 17 years old. She's currently with Swedish team Vittsjö GIK, on what was supposed to be a mid-season loan but quickly turned permanent.
Clare Hunt
Name: Clare Hunt
Position: Defender, No.15
Where is she from? Grenfell, New South Wales
Current club: Western Sydney Wanderers FC (Australia)
Clare Hunt is one of the newest additions to the Matildas team, debuting in the Matildas v Czechia match back in February. She's currently with the Western Sydney Wanderers football club and on her downtime is studying Doctor of Physiotherapy in an extended Master … you know, just casually.
Alanna Kennedy
Name: Alanna Kennedy
Position: Defender, No.14
Where is she from? Campbelltown, NSW
Current club: Manchester City (England)
Another Matilda's veteran, Alanna Kennedy debuted with the Matildas back in 2012 when she was just 17 years old. Since then, she's seen three FIFA Women's World Cups and two Olympics with the Tillies. Growing up in Campbelltown, the Little Athletic Hall of Famer competed against Caitlin Foord, but has now joined forces with her to represent Australia.
Aivi Luik
Name: Aivi Luik
Position: Defender, No.3
Where is she from? Perth, WA
Current club: BK Häcken (Sweden)
Defender Aivi Luik debuted with the team all the way back in 2010 when she was 24. Currently, she primarily plays in defence for her domestic club BK Häcken, in Sweden, where she comes up against a number of her Matildas teammates who also play in the Damallsvenskan.
Courtney Nevin
Name: Courtney Nevin
Position: Defender, No.2
Where is she from? Blacktown, NSW
Current club: Leicester City (England)
In 2015, a teenage Courtney Nevin travelled to Canada to watch the Matildas compete in the Women's World Cup. Eight years later and she's playing alongside 13 of the players she watched compete in 2015. The defender signed a contract with English club Leicester City at the start of January 2023.
Clare Polkinghorne
Name: Clare Polkinghorne
Position: Defender, No.4
Where is she from? Brisbane, Queensland
Current club: Vittsjö GIK (Sweden)
If you're looking for a veteran Matilda, look no further than Clare 'Polks' Polkinghorne who debuted with the team back in 2006 at 17 years old. She's played for the Tillies in five FIFA Women's World Cups, five AFC Asian Cups and two Olympics. She currently plays for Swedish team Vittsjö GIK alongside fellow Matilda Charlotte Grant.
Midfielders
Alex Chidiac
Name: Alex Chidiac
Position: Midfielder, No.8
Where is she from? Born in Sydney, grew up in Adelaide
Current club: Racing Louisville (United States)
Chidiac made her international debut in 2015, but this is her first World Cup tournament, although she's had barely any game time yet. In last year's A-League, the 24-year-old scored six goals in 13 appearances to take last season's Julie Dolan Medal with Melbourne Victory, where she was on loan from Racing Louisville in the NWSL. She came on as a substitute in the Nigeria game and could make an impact off the bench in the semi.
Katrina Gorry
Name: Katrina Gorry
Position: Midfielder, No.19
Where is she from? Brisbane, Queensland
Current club: Vittsjö GIK (Sweden)
This is Gorry's third call-up for the World Cup team and she was a key player in the group stages, covering the most ground of any Tilly at 10.95 kilometres a game. Mini, as she's known due to being the shortest player in the side, made her name at Brisbane Roar before heading overseas. The 31-year-old returned to the Matildas in 2022 in fine form after having her daughter Harper.
Clare Wheeler
Name: Clare Wheeler
Position: Midfielder, No.6
Where is she from? Coffs Harbour and Newcastle, NSW
Current club: Everton (England)
Wheeler hasn't had any game time in the tournament so far, but she's ready and able to make an impact when tapped from the subs bench. The 25-year-old started her career at the Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC, before moving to Everton in the Women's Super League. She made her international debut in 2021.
Tameka Yallop
Name: Tamkea Yallop
Position: Midfielder, No.13
Where is she from? Orange, NSW
Current club: Brann (Norway)
Yallop made her international debut in 2007 and this is her fourth World Cup. The 32-year-old was injured earlier in the year, so hasn't had as much game time. She was subbed on in extra time in the game against France and her penalty hit the mark.
Emily van Egmond
Name: Emily Van Egmond
Position: Midfielder, No.10
Where is she from? Newcastle, NSW
Current club: San Diego Wave (United States)
After debuting in 2011 at 18, this is van Egmond's fourth World Cup and she's a mainstay along with Foord and Kerr who started at the same time. The 30-year-old, who scored in the Nigeria game, is instrumental in the midfield.
Forwards
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Name: Kyra Cooney-Cross
Position: Midfielder, No.23
Where is she from? Herston, Queensland
Current club: Hammarby IF (Sweden)
The 21-year-old Kyra Cooney-Cross plays with a quiet maturity that belies her age and experience. Now a regular starter, and with 33 caps to her name, it's easy to forget that this is her debut World Cup. The technically gifted Queenslander has hit a rich vein of form, combining with 30-year-old Katrina Gorry to form a formidable midfield partnership.
Caitlin Foord
Name: Caitlin Foord
Position: Forward, No.9
Where is she from? Shellharbour, NSW
Current club: Arsenal FC (England)
At a home World Cup, Caitlin Foord has taken on the daunting task of filling the void left by Sam Kerr. And she has done so with aplomb. The striker was awarded player of the match in the round of 16 clash against Denmark, scoring Australia's first goal with a nutmeg against the keeper. The 28-year-old also displayed nerves of steel to step up — and nail — the first penalty of the now famous shootout against France.
Mary Fowler
Name: Mary Fowler
Position: Forward, No.11
Where is she from? Cairns, Queensland
Current club: Manchester City (England)
The long-time Matildas prodigy has shown flashes of brilliance at this World Cup, scoring a crucial penalty against France, and setting up Foord's goal against Denmark with a stunning through ball. The 20-year-old also hit the back of the net in the 4-0 win against Canada, which sealed Australia's progression through to the knockout stages. Fowler is of Irish and Papua New Guinean heritage, and can speak fluent Dutch after spending several years of her childhood in the Netherlands.
Sam Kerr
Name: Sam Kerr
Position: Forward, No.20
Where is she from? Perth, WA
Current club: Chelsea (England)
Widely regarded as one of the best footballers in the world, Sam Kerr has captained the Matildas since 2019. The 29-year-old is Australia's all-time leading international scorer, and the only women's soccer player to have won the Golden Boot (for top-scorer) in three different leagues (Australia, USA, and England). Kerr has played limited minutes at the World Cup due to her calf injury, but showed great composure to score a penalty against France.
Hayley Raso
Name: Hayley Raso
Position: Winger/Forward, No.16
Where is she from? Gold Coast, Queensland
Current club: Real Madrid CF (Spain)
Australia's most loveable "pest" — infamous for getting a rise out of her opposition — Hayley Raso has played out of her skin this tournament. The 28-year-old scored twice against Olympic gold medallists Canada, while also hitting the back of the net against Denmark. Raso's electrifying pace has caused the Matildas' opposition headaches all tournament.
Kyah Simon
Name: Kyah Simon
Position: Forward/Winger, No.17
Where is she from? Blacktown, NSW
Current club: Unsigned (previously Tottenham Hotspur, England)
32-year-old Kyah Simon tore her ACL in October while playing for Tottenham Hotspur, and was something of a surprise selection for the Matildas given she hasn't appeared since. Nonetheless, as a veteran of 111 caps, coach Tony Gustavsson was comfortable including the striker in his squad, noting the value of both her experience and the chance she could be fit for the knockout stages. In 2011, the Anaiwan and Biripi woman became the first Indigenous Australian to score a goal in the World Cup.
Cortnee Vine
Name: Cortnee Vine
Position: Forward, No.5
Where is she from? Shepparton, Victoria
Current club: Sydney FC
The 25-year-old will go down in history after coolly slotting the winning penalty against France, sending the Matildas into the semi-final of a World Cup for the first time. The feat was all the more impressive given this is Vine's debut World Cup, while she is relatively unheralded compared to many of her teammates, representing Sydney FC in the ALW, Vine has become a mainstay of the side under Tony Gustavsson.
And we can't forget Coach Tony
Tony Gustavsson
Name: Tony Gustavsson
Position: Head Coach
Where is he from? Sundsvall, Sweden
The Matildas' 50-year-old head coach has been working with both women's and men's football teams for 22 years. Gustavsson is a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winner for the United States, having been a part of the coaching staff in Canada in 2015 and in France in 2019. He also has an Olympic gold medal to his name after working with the United States Women’s National Team at the London Olympics in 2012.